The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1887-11-02
RIDING A PICK.A.PACK.


How the Little Ones of Many Animals
Are Carried by Their Parents.
Among our Indian tribes we invari.
ably see the pappoose swung to the
mothers back or carried in the way
called pick-a-pack, and it is curious to
note how many of the lower animals
transport their little ones in the same
way, oftentimes when it requires no
little effort on the part of the parent.
One of the most interesting animals !
have ever seen was large South
American ant-eater; the long-nosed,
bushy-tailed fellow which walks upon
the side of its feet. SO long are its
claws, whose scientific name is myrme-
cophaga jubata. II stood upright.
peering at me with its small bead.like
eyes. its great tail completely cover
ing its back like an umbrella. and rs l
watched the curious creature became
aware of another pair Of eyes and an
other long nose just above the head
of the large one, and it soon
dawned upon me that the ant
eater had little one, and that it was
perched upon the mothers back,
completely concealed by the long
bushy tail that was spread over it like
a canopy. And this was the way the
baby, and sometimes two. was carried
about. The great tail serves double
purpose: it not only covers and hides
the young when upon the mother
back, but it protects the ant-eater her.
self, giving her the appearance OF a
great bush.
While the ant-eater is a slow-going,
clumsy beast. it is an enemy to be
dreaded at close quarters, the long.
sharp claws being terrible weapons. l
have been informed that on one occa-
sion q native saw on ant-eater carry
ing its young pick-a-pack, as have
described, and thinking to secure it
for dinner. as the little fellows are
considered great delicacics, he ap.
preached and attacked it with his
spear, when without warning the ami
NAL sprang at him. the babies rolling
off -s,,s she struck the unfortunate
man $50 powerful a blow
with her claws that he was Instantly
killed. The claws Of the ant-catcr
. are its only weapon, being long, sharp
and powerful. to enable it to tear open
the great ant-hills Its mouth is ex.
tremcly small. and at tho end of a long
pointed snout, whilo the tongue is OF
remarkable length and perfectly adapt
cd for tho work it has to perform.
In South America another animal,
the sloth, carries its young in the same
manner. The brown bear of Asia
carries its young pick-a-pack. ant
when walking along sedately bearing
the cubs, one or two. upon its back. ]
presents very curious appearance
In equatorial Africa hunters often see
young animals in curious positions
Once when \ party had crcpt up to
a lake in tho hope of finding herd o
elephants, they saw instead. SOM
twenty or thirty feet from the shore,
large baby hippopotamus that scenes
to be actually standing on the water
lis huge clumsy feet resting upol
it. Tho hunters suppose'
that it was on q SAM
bar. but as it soon began to move ava
without any motion Of the feet it be
came evident that the thousand-poun,
baby was upon its mothers back.
rose gradually higher and higher, an
as the old one moved up the bank
was seen to be standing on her broa
back. being carried up and dow
stream in this way.
Among our own comparatively ia
miliar animals we find u most inter
esting example of pick-a-pack riding
The common opossum of the Soutl
the only pouched animal of this cour
try, first carries its young in poucf
but when they are well grown an
capable Of running about they tax
their places upon her back and elm
there, sometimes six or seven. presen
ing very animated appearance. the
little black eyes glistening and tho III
tie ears erect The little opossum
have peculiar way of holding on. !
this having au advantage over a
most all other animals. Their tai
are what is called prehensilc. or hav
the faculty of clinging to any obie'
Ike the tai. of he sa-callle1 r.nS & .a!.S